Not for light rain, certainly. If it starts really pelting down, you'd better start looking for cover. If you're worried, Kata makes inexpensive camera raingear (about $45 for a camera cover which will handle most lenses up to about 300 mm, and a bundle of lens sleeves to go with it for longer, and fast long (e.g the 300 f/2.8) lenses). Or you can keep a clear plastic bag and some tape or rubber bands in your camera bag to make your own.

I've used my 20D (no weather seal) in a downpour with minor problems. I keep the camera/lens inside my jacket while walking around and only take it out when I need to take a shot. The body & lens got pretty wet but kept on functioning for about 2 hours or so. After that, I noticed that f/8 is no longer there (I keep the camera on Av & f/8 all the time). The LED readout skips from f/6.3 to f/9. Changing the lens did not help. I kept on shooting with f/9 (had to increase the ISO) for the rest of the shoot and camera worked fine. After I got back to the tent that night and dried everything out, f/8 returned the next day.

How will 5D's weather seal perform in the same conditions I don't know. But if the only reason you get 5D over 20D is for the weather seal, I'd say save your money and get the 20D.

wilflee wrote:I've used my 20D (no weather seal) in a downpour with minor problems. I keep the camera/lens inside my jacket while walking around and only take it out when I need to take a shot. The body & lens got pretty wet but kept on functioning for about 2 hours or so. After that, I noticed that f/8 is no longer there (I keep the camera on Av & f/8 all the time). The LED readout skips from f/6.3 to f/9. Changing the lens did not help. I kept on shooting with f/9 (had to increase the ISO) for the rest of the shoot and camera worked fine. After I got back to the tent that night and dried everything out, f/8 returned the next day.

jeez, talking about trying your luck

If you absolutely need a weatherproof camera it is cheaper to buy the 5d and some raingear then shelling out 1000s extra dollars for a 1d

How important? You will have to tell yourself how important this thing is for you. For me it certanly is. I have to shoot when there race is on program no matter of weather. If it's sunny, fine I can enjoy and even get some tan , if it's raining I still have to go out and shoot. So for me this thing is important. But I can't tell you, how important this is for you.

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